Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-07-15

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS SOLUTION TURKISH SIDE

[02] HOUSE SPEAKER COUP TURKISH INVASION

[03] GREEK AMBASSADOR CYPRUS ISSUE

[04] EURO AREA INFLATION

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS SOLUTION TURKISH SIDE

President Christofias` comments came in the wake of positions expressed by Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in Ankara, that the current UN-led negotiations could conclude by December this year. Foreign officials speak of an ``international timeframe`` expiring in December, when the European Commission is expected to assess Turkeys accession course.

``There is no international timeframe,`` the President stressed replying to questions, adding that ``if there is something which could be considered international, that is our agreement with the UN Secretary-General that there will be no timeframes and especially no suffocating ones and that there will be no arbitration,`` in the ongoing talks, which began in September last year.

Stressing that he remains committed to this agreement, President Christofias expressed ``anger and regret`` at any suggestion that EU leading personalities or UN officials might be talking about timeframes.

``We want a solution soon,`` the President said, stressing that ``if Turkey needs a solution, it must first help itself. In my opinion, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership must change course and respect the fundamental principles of international law, in addition to showing respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, of the United Republic of Cyprus, which I hope will emerge out of the unitary state.

``If Turkey shows this respect and shifts its policy, it is possible to reach a settlement by December,`` Christofias said, warning everybody that they should remind Ankara, not Nicosia, of this coming December. Ankara, he added, must be reminded of its obligations towards the EU, Cyprus and the international community, which so far it has failed to meet.

Turkey has refused to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, where it maintains some 40,000 occupation troops in the northern part of the country. Turkey has failed to open its ports and airports to Cypriot flagged ships and aircraft, in spite of repeated calls from Brussels.

Replying to questions, the President said it is high time that the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee is abolished. The Treaty designated Britain, Turkey and Greece as guarantor powers of the independence and territorial integrity of the newly established Republic of Cyprus. Ankara insists on continuing with the existing guarantee system.

The President explained that a lot has changed in the world, Cyprus, Greece and Britain have joined the EU and Turkey is knocking on the EU door, the Cypriot people have suffered and I believe the people are now mature and the conditions are ripe to do away with guarantors.

He also said that the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance give no right for unilateral military intervention to any of the three guarantor powers (the UK, Greece and Turkey).

The guarantors, instead of safeguarding the independence of Cyprus, have worked for its dissolution,`` he said.

He noted that Greece, after the fall of the military junta, punished those responsible for the heinous crime, and pointed out that Turkey continues to commit a crime, which is the substance oaf the problem, the continuing military occupation of Cyprus northern part.

Five days after the July 15 coup, in 1974, inspired by the Greek military junta, Turkey invaded on the pretext of restoring constitutional order on the island. Since then, its troops occupy 37 per cent of Cyprus` territory, in spite of repeated UN calls to withdraw.

Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led talks since September last year, with a view to finding a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country.

[02] HOUSE SPEAKER COUP TURKISH INVASION

The House held an extraordinary plenary session to mark the occasion, attended by President Demetris Christofias and members of his Cabinet.

Addressing the plenary, House President Marios Garoyian said that the people of Cyprus will never compromise with the result of the invasion, never accept the results of the occupation, never give up asserting their rights.

[03] GREEK AMBASSADOR CYPRUS ISSUE

Speaking during a visit to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Greek Ambassador referred to todays anniversary of the 1974 military coup, on July 15, against the legal government of the late President Archbishop Makarios.

Today is a deeply sad anniversary he said, adding that earlier in the morning he attended the commemoration ceremony for those who were killed during the 1974 coup, staged at the instigation of the military junta, then ruling Greece, with help from the Republic`s armed forces.

[04] EURO AREA INFLATION

In Cyprus, inflation dropped to 0.1% from 0,5 in May, while in Greece it remained stable at 0,7%.

In particular, the figures show that Euro area annual inflation was -0.1% in June 2009, down from 0.0% in May. A year earlier the rate was 4.0%, while monthly inflation was 0.2% in June 2009.

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